by Robert Workman on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Assault Heroes 2 plays like its prequel as players take down enemies in a supercharged vehicle or on foot. Rather than just recycle the goods from the original, Wanako Games and Sierra Online added some useful new equipment and challenging bosses. As a result, it's more than worth the 800 point download.
The game's plot is paper-thin. Once again, for the sake of freedom and liberty, you hop into aland rover and shoot anything that moves, be it humans trying to eliminate you or sinister alien forces. You have a number of weapons available with all of the vehicles in the game, including a flame-thrower, grenades, a power blaster, a machine gun and the new freeze gun. All of them are helpful, whether you blast a suicide bomber to pieces or chip away at the outer shell of a tank.
Instead of using the same old ride, Assault Heroes 2 adds new vehicles to the mix. You can now access a helicopter, an armored tank and a Battletech-ish droid. Each one has a unique control scheme, but all of them are fun, especially when you plow through dozens of enemy soldiers. Like in the first game, you also have segments where you charge into areas on-foot, giving the game a classic vibe comparable to the old NES classic Blaster Master.
Best of all, you don't have to go it alone. the game supports co-op play both locally with a friend and through Xbox Live. Online play works smoothly, with only occasional hitches. Working with a friend also gives you the capability of using coordinated co-op attacks, giving you an advantage over stronger enemies.
It's not a shark with a frickin' laser beam attached to its head, but a robotic whale's hard to beat.
Wanako did some touch-ups to the game's visuals, making it look sharper. Enemies appear much more detailed, the explosion effects are better (check out that water) and the destructible environments are a welcome touch. The music's also been perked up a bit, replacing the original game's background techno. The sound effects are intact from the previous game, including the warrior yells when suicide bombers appear and, as expected, lots of booms and bangs.
Really, the only thing holding back Assault Heroes 2 from being an Xbox Live legend is the fact that it's structured too much like the original. The game's over in a matter of hours, whether you go at it alone or work alongside a friend. There are a few Achievements to unlock and three difficulty levels, but this game would've scored into the 9 range with just a little more length.
That's no reason to miss out on it, though. Assault Heroes 2 is a jet-fueled ride that's pure arcade shooting ecstasy. It's on the same level as a roller coaster. Just because it ends sooner than expected doesn't mean you can't do it a few more times.
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